What are Home School Requirements?

An increasing number of parents are educating their children at home instead of sending them to formal schools. Homeschooling may be an unconventional way to educate kids, but it can be more effective than typical education if it is done the right way. Parents have to be prepared to make sacrifices if they want their children to get the best education at home. Before they decide to homeschool their kids, they need to understand the requirements of homeschooling.

First, parents need to determine how they want to homeschool their kids. They can educate their children themselves, use homeschooling curriculums, hire private tutors, or enroll their children in online schools. The cost of homeschooling varies from one method to another, and it can be higher than the cost of formal schooling. In addition, parents have to ensure that they have someone at home to look after their children. If both parents are working outside, they have to spend extra money to hire a guardian or child sitter. If they decide to stay at home themselves, they may have to give up their jobs, and this can lead to loss of income. Many parents who choose to homeschool their kids work at home.

To make homeschooling work, parents have to keep track of their children’s academic progress. They have to be willing to spend more time with their children to find out how much they have learned. If their kids show slow progress, they need to find ways to improve their learning proficiency. Other than gaining bookish knowledge, children also need to take part in extracurricular activities, and parents have to engage their kids in physical activities and hobbies. Homeschooling requires a lot of commitment, and it is not a suitable option for parents who do not have the time and patience to provide constant guidance for their children.

Another homeschooling requirement that parents need to be aware of is the homeschooling laws in their states. Different states have different homeschooling laws, and they are generally categorized as states that require no notice, and states with low, moderate, and high regulation. States that do not require parents to provide notification of their intention to homeschool their children include Texas, Idaho, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Those that need notification only are California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Washington D.C., and Delaware.

States that have moderate regulation require parents to submit notification, professional evaluation of students’ academic progress, and test scores. These states include Colorado, Oregon, Iowa, South Dakota, Ohio, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. Parents in states with high regulation need to provide notification, professional evaluation, test scores, written curriculum, and information regarding the qualification of teachers. They should also expect occasional visits by state officials. States that have high regulation for homeschooling are North Dakota, Utah, Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Additional Resources

Here are links to more information about homeschooling requirements:

Laws: Find out about homeschooling laws in every state.
Kentucky: The page provides information on homeschooling requirements in Kentucky.
Indiana: Homeschooling requirements in the state of Indiana.
Tennessee: Offers information on homeschooling requirements in Tennessee.
North Carolina: A look at the homeschooling requirements in North Carolina.
Idaho: Provides information on homeschooling requirements in Idaho.
Michigan: The homeschooling requirements in Michigan.
Maine: A good place to find out about homeschooling requirements in Maine.
Missouri: Find out about homeschooling requirements in Missouri.
New York City: Outlines the homeschooling requirements in New York City.
Manitoba: Come here to learn about homeschooling requirements in Manitoba.
Montana: Information on homeschooling requirements in Montana.
Utah: The requirements for homeschooling in Utah.
Vermont: Homeschooling requirements in Vermont.
Iowa: The University of Iowa provides information on homeschooling regulations in Iowa.
Wisconsin: A look at the homeschooling requirements in Wisconsin.
Connecticut: Find out about the homeschooling requirements in Connecticut.
Nebraska: Offers information on homeschooling requirements in Nebraska.
Virginia: Know the laws on homeschooling in Virginia.
District of Columbia: Learn more about the homeschooling regulations in DC.
Alaska: The regulations of homeschooling in Alaska.
Arizona: Provides information on the homeschooling requirements in Arizona.
Massachusetts: A good place to learn about the homeschooling laws in Massachusetts.
Florida: Homeschooling requirements in Florida.
Hawaii: Provides information on homeschooling regulations in Hawaii.
California: Highlights the homeschooling requirements in California.
Oregon: The right place to learn about homeschooling requirements in Oregon.
Nevada: Find out about homeschooling regulations in Nevada.
Kansas: Outlines the homeschooling requirements in Kansas.
Georgia: Come here to learn about the homeschooling requirements in Georgia.